Search form

Just a few notes regarding the songs on this week’s SOF Playlist. Thanks, to Padraig for his suggestion of Lasairfhiona Ní Chonaola’s music, which I was able to find and place in this week’s program. Also, many thanks to Gerard O’Shea who wrote about attending a John O’Donohue memorial in his blog. In which he mentions that at the end of the service a gentleman named Jack Carley got up and sang “The Vale of Fermoyle,” in the sean-nos style (see blog entry below for more info and a beautiful example). Fermoyle is the birthplace of John O’Donohue and this song was one of his favorites.

Anyway, Gerard ordered a copy of that CD on Tuesday and was kind enough to e-mail a version of that song to me the very same day. Hats off to Cois na h-Abhna, Dooras in County Clare for providing the CD, There’s a Spot in Old Ireland. Though I was not able to use that song in the program, I’ve included it as a bonus track on the show’s playlist.

I also just wanted to provide an excerpt of the lyrics to Iarla O’lionaird’s version of Taimse im’ chodladh, which I have found translated as “I Sleep” “I am Sleep” “I am Asleep”, but I think you get the gist. Thanks to Bill Jones’ website, which offers a translation of the Gaelic. Here is an excerpt:

I am sleeping, do not wake me I hear you calling Come back again, I’ll show you how I am sleeping, do not wake me The day is dawning Come back again, don’t wake me now Just look high and low, and search round the town For the wildflower where we met the first time If you pull the petals all the spell may be broken Come back again, don’t wake me now

This song ends the program and I felt that this was a nice image of someone sleeping to round out the homage to John O’Donohue, not that I knew what the words meant when I was placing the song! Sometimes you get lucky. Anyway, that’s about it. I hope you enjoy the music.

Reflections

Hi- I wanted to a step up and invite you to sample my album. It is my own spiritual creation. It would be an honor to be considered for Speaking of Faith....You can hear samples on the web page but I would be happy to send you a copy.Rebecca Jeffreys

The show was amazing. When I heard John O'Donohue read his blessing poem, my eyes filled with tears. The music was just right. I ordered three of his books, plus Meister Eckhardt, whom I read long ago and forgot. Thank you for such an uplifting, wonderful program. I am going to download it and send it to friends.